Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Off-trail Restrictions Implemented for Logan Pass Area

Visitors to the Logan Pass area of Glacier National Park may want to note that some off-trail restrictions have been put into place recently. These closures include access to the iconic Triple Falls, as well as almost everything off-trail in the Logan Pass area atop the Going-to-the-Sun Road. According to the 2014 Compendium, the following closures and restrictions are now in place for the Logan Pass area:

vi) Area Closures:

A) The following areas are closed, as posted, to ALL public use and entry for the protection
of revegetation projects, existing resident vegetation species and seasonal habitat for
congregating bighorn sheep and mountain goats:

1) The "Jones Flat" area at Oberlin Bend on the Going-to-the-Sun Road,
extending from the Highline Trailhead at Logan Pass to the Rimrock area,
bounded by the Highline Trail
and the inside radius of Going-to-the-Sun Road.
The Highline Trail is not included within this closure. Refer to map section at
end of chapter.

2) The Oberlin Bend area on the Going-to-the Sun Road, extending from Oberlin
Peak climbers access trail at Logan Pass to the Rimrock area, bounded by the
outside radius of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, the northern perimeter of the
Oberlin Peak climbers access route, and the base of Oberlin Peak. The Oberlin
Peak climbing route is not located within this closure. Refer to map section at
end of chapter.

3) The Mount Pollock area at Logan Pass, extending from the Highline Trailhead
to the GPS coordinate 48º41’49.01” N 113º42’43.48”W, bounded by the
Highline Trail, Going-to-the-Sun Road, and cliff base of Mount Pollock. The Highline Trail
is not included within this closure. Refer to map section at end of
chapter.

B) The following areas are closed, as posted, to ALL OFF-TRAIL TRAVEL for the
protection of revegetation projects, existing resident vegetation and seasonal habitat for
congregating bighorn sheep and mountain goats:

1) The Logan Pass area, which consists of all areas within the following exterior
boundaries: Oberlin Peak climber trail, from the trailhead, to Oberlin Peak;
Oberlin Peak to Clements Peak; Clements Peak, along Clements Ridge, to the
first switchback on the Hidden Lake Trail; first switch back on the Hidden Lake
Trail, along the first bench above Hidden Lake, to Reynolds Pass; Reynolds Pass,
along the southern edge of the Hanging Garden area, to the cliff wall above the
Reynolds Creek valley; and bound by the remainder of the cliff wall, above
Reynolds Creek valley, and Going-to-the-Sun Road. Refer to map section at end
of chapter. Exceptions:

ii) Over snow travel is not included in this closure, so long as travel is
NOT conducted over bare ground, rock, or vegetation and all travel is on
contiguous snowpack immediately accessible from established trail
corridors [see 36 CFR 1.5 (a)(1)(iii)(H) for wildlife distance
requirements].

iii) Administrative functions and special use or research permitted
activities are not included in this closure.

C) Footgear with felt or other fibrous material on the soles is prohibited in all park waters.